Authorities investigating death of E. Texas hunter

HARRISON COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
According to the Harrison County Sheriff's Office, 51-year-old Benjamin Randell Huffman of Hallsville was killed Friday morning during a hunting incident.

Harrison County 911 dispatchers received a call at 6:10 a.m. reporting that a shooting had just occurred near Quail Lane and Willie Smith Road. Deputies and Texas Game Wardens arrived at a field near the south end of Willie Road where they located Huffman's body on the ground below a deer stand.

A witness states that he and Huffman were planning to hunt together Friday morning. He says he climbed a ladder and entered the deer stand before Huffman. The witness then turned to receive his rifle from Huffman who was standing on the ground below. When Huffman handed the rifle to the witness, the gun discharged with the muzzle pointing downward toward Huffman.

The witness could not locate a cell phone, so he drove from the deer stand to a residence on Quail Lane. He notified the owners of the residence to call 911.

Huffman was pronounced dead by Harrison County Judge Mike Smith. An autopsy has been ordered.

Friends of Huffman remember him as an expert hunter and fisherman.

"Randy Huffman is the greatest outdoorsman I've ever met in my entire life. He was a good man. At least he passed in the woods, right where he always wanted to be. My heart and prayers go out to the Huffman Family," said Skyler Brooks, a family friend.

Deputies are currently taking statements and the incident will be referred to a Harrison County Grand Jury.

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